Stopping mechanism for sewing machines



April .10.; 1934.

B. T,LEvEQu:-:

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Deo. 27

Wai/m95 me a. dy-Af- April 10, 1934. B. T. LEvEQuE STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo 2T 1930 I l l April 10, 1934. B. T. LEVEQUE STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 27, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zwan/Zw' @uw Mult i;

lApril 10, 1934. B. T. LEVI-:QUE

STOPPING MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed D60. 27. 1930 6 SheetS-Sheet 4 April 10, 1934. s. 1'. LEVEQUE STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES e sheets-sheet r5 Filed Dec. 27. 1930 Wrze@ April l0, 1934. B. T. LEVEQUE STOPPING MECHAN-LSM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 27, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sToPPING MECHANISM Foa SEWING MACHINES Bernard T. Leveque, Wenham, Mass., assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey The present invention relates to stopping mechanism for sewing machines and is herein disclosed as embodied in a chain stitch machine employing a straight eye pointed needle and a cooperating looper.

Stop motions have been developed for use in connection with sewing machines which act when thrown into operation to stop the machine at a predetermined position, usually with the operating devices retracted to facilitate the removal of the work from the machine. With machines operating upon certain classes of Work, it may be desirable to stop the machine momentarily during the progress of the stitching as for instance, to turn a corner. When the machine is stopped in this way, it has been found desirable to bring the machine to rest in such a position as to leave one or more of the operating elements in engagement with the work so that the' relationship of the work to the stitch forming devices will not be disturbed with the consequent break in the even line of the stitching. Y

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide in a sewing machine a novel and improved stopping mechanism which may be readily controlled by the operator during the continued operation of the machine to stop the machine with the operating devices alternatively in engagement with or out of contact with the work, as desired.

With this object in view, the principal feature of the invention consists in the provision of mechanism for disconnecting the needle from its actuating mechanism upon stopping the machine which may be readily adjusted by the operator to render the needle inoperative alternatively at either the top or the bottom of its stroke.

The several features of the invention consist also in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed which, together with the advantages to be obtained thereby, will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation cf an eye pointed needle sewing machine in which the several features of the invention have been embodied; Fig. 2 is a view in right side elevation partly in section, of the head of the machine; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the needle actuating mechanism with the needle disconnected in its down position; Fig. 5 is a view showing substantially the parts shown in Fig. 4 directly after the stop motion has been thrown into operation; Fig. 6 lis a detail view in side elevation of the needle tripping and locking lever; Fig. 7 is an end view of the lever shown in Fig.

6; Fig. 8 is a detail view of the sliding latch for determining the stopping position of the needle; 60 Fig. 9 is an end View of the parts shown in Fig.

8; Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the stopping clutch generally indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1; and Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are somewhat diagrammatic detail views illustrating different posi- 65 tions of the cooperating needle and looper, Fig. 11 showing the needle retracted from the work with the loop held on the looper, Fig. 12 showing the needle advanced through the work on the next succeeding stitch, and Fig. 13 being a side view of 70 the parts shown in Fig. 12.

The machine herein disclosed as embodying the several features of the present invention comprises a head which is mounted on the upper end of a supporting base or column 22. The 75 machine is driven by means of an electric motor 24, housed in the base of the machine, through belt connections comprising the belt 26 which passes around a pulley 28 directly connected to the motor and a pulley 30 on an intermediate 80 shaft 32. 'I'he shaft 32 is in turn connected through a stopping and starting clutch with a pulley 34 which is sleeved on the shaft 32 and is connected by means of a belt 36 with a pulley 38 mounted on the sewing cam shaft 40 in the 85 head of the machine.

The starting and stopping clutch of the machine comprises the female clutch member 42 formed on the shaft 32 adapted to engage with a corresponding male member 44 formed on a 90 short shaft or plunger 46 which is journaled in a bearing 48 in the pulley 34 and is keyed to turn therewith by the engagement of the rolls 50 on the clutch member 44 in corresponding sockets 52 in the pulley 34. The clutch members are 95 normally held out of contact by means of a compression spring 54 coiled about the shaft 46 between the bearing 48 and a collar 56 on the end of the shaft. In order to bring the clutch members 42 and 44 into operative engagement to drive 100 the machine, a jack shaft 58 is journaled at right angles to the shaft 32 on the machine frame and carries an arm 60 which is adapted to engage with a ball 62 mounted in a socket in the end of the shaft 46. The shaft 58 is rocked to bring the 105 member 60 into contact with the ball 62 to force the male member 44 of the clutch into driving engagement with the female member 42 against the pressure of the spring 54 through connections from the starting treadle 64 of the machine com- 110 prising an arm 6G secured to the jack shaft 58 and a rod 68 connecting at its free end to the treadle 64.

The stitch forming devices of the machine comprise an eye pointed straight needle 70 and a rotating loop taker '72 of familiar design which is actuated in timed relation to the operation of the needle and cooperates therewith to form a single thread chain stitch. The loop taker 72 is xedly secured to the forward end of the sewing shaft 40 so that this element is given a continuous rotary movement during the operation of the machine. The needle '70 is secured to the lower end of a needle bar 74 mounted to reciprocate in bearings 76 and 78 formed in the head 20 of the machine and is actuated from a crank pin 80 supported on the crank arm 82 offset from the sewing shaft 40.

In order to enable the operator to throw the machine out of operation instantly without shock or jar, when desired, the driving connections for the needle from the crank pin 80 are arranged in such a manner as to cause the needle to be disconnected from its actuating mechanism at one end of its reciprocating movement when the foot treadle is released to stop the machine. These connections comprise a bell crank lever 84 which is secured by means of a pin 86 to a rock shaft 88 extending transversely of the machine and is connected at the end of its laterally extending arm through a link 90 to a bracket 92 which is adjustably secured to the needle bar '74. A second bell crank lever 94 is mounted coaxially with the bell crank 84 being adjustably secured by means of a split socket and bolt 96 to a sleeve 98 on the pivot shaft 88. A rearwardly extending arm of thy bell crank 94 is connected by means of a link 100 with the crank pin 80 so that this lever 94 is given a continuous reciprocatory or rocking movement from the sewing shaft 40 of the machine. During the normal operation of the machine, the bell crank levers 84 and 94 are connected to move as a unit` so that a driving impulse is imparted through the horizontal forwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever 84 to reciprocate the needle by means of a slip clutch best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, which normally connects the pivot shaft 88 and the sleeve 98 to move as a unit. This clutch is comprised of a member 102 clamped to the sleeve 98 by means of a bolt 104 and a corresponding member 106 keyed to turn with the pivot shaft 88. A heavy compression spring 108 coiled about the pivot shaft 88 between the clutch member 106 and a nut 110 on the end of the pivot shaft 88 tends to hold the members 102 and 106 of the clutch in engagement to cause the sleeve 98 and the shaft 88 carrying respectively the bell cranks 84 and 94 to move as a unit. In order to insure the continuance of the driving relation between the bell cranks 84 and 94, during the relatively heavy strain of the downward stroke of the needle through the work, a latch 112 is secured to a pin 114 on a downwardly extending arm of the bell crank 84 and is adapted to engage with a corresponding pin 116 formed on the downwardly extending arm of the bell crank 94. A tension spring 118 secured at one end to an upwardly extending lever arm 120 fast on the pin 114 and at its other end secured to a convenient point on the machine tends to rotate the latch 112 in a clockwise. direction as shown in Fig. 2 to hold the latch normally in engagement with the pin 116.

When the treadle 64 is released by the operator to stop the machine, the latch 112 is raised to disengage the bell crank 84 from the driving bell crank 94, and the bell crank 84 is then locked by means to be described at one limit of the reciprocatory movement of the bell crank and the needle bar 74 to prevent the further reciprocation of the needle 70 as the sewing shaft 40 is gradually brought to a stop. The mechanism for disengaging the latch 112 and locking the bell crank 84 against further movement comprises an arm 122 which is secured to a rock shaft 124 extending laterally of the machine and carries on its free end a pin 126 adapted to engage with a corresponding tail piece 128 formed on the latch 112 to raise the latch out of engagement with the pin 116 on the bell crank lever 94. The movement of the arm 122 to disengage the latch 112 is controlled from the stopping and starting treadle 64 through connections comprising an arm 130 secured to the left-hand end of the rock shaft 124 as shown in Fig. 1 and connected to the upper end of a vertically arranged link 132 which is secured at its lower end to the arm 66 and the treadle controlled link 68. A compression spring 134 coiled about the link 132 between a shoulder 136 secured to the link and a plate 138 through which the link 132 passes, tends to rotate the arm 122 in a downward direction to disengage the latch 112.

In acordance with a principal feature of the present invention, the mechanism for disconnecting the needle has been arranged to permit the operator, upon stopping the machine, to disconnect the needle alternatively at the top of its stroke out of contact with the work or at the bottom of its work piercing stroke, as desired. To this end, the arm 122, as shown in detail in Fig. 6, is provided with two recesses 140 and 142 which are adapted to engage with the pivot pin 114 at the limits of the movement of the bell crank 84 respectively in each direction, the recess 140 being adapted to engage with the pin 114 at the top of the needle stroke, and the recess 142 being adapted to engage with the pin 114 at the bottom of theneedle stroke through the work. To enable the operator to stop the needle with the pin 114 in engagement with the recess 140 or 142 as desired, a member 144 is secured by the engagement of the pins 146 with a correspending slot 148 in the arm 122 to slide relatively thereto. The sliding member 144 is provided with a recess 150 arranged so that for the forward position of the sliding member, as shown in Fig. 5, the recess 140 is covered by the sliding member and the recesses 142 and 150 register to permit the pin 114 to engage only with the recess 142. In the retracted position of the sliding member 144, the recess 142 is covered and the pin 114 is permitted to enter only the recess 140, as shown in Fig. 2. The position of the sliding member 144 is controlled by the operator from a knee lever 152 through connections which include a link 154 secured at one end to one of the pins 146 and at its other end to a lever arm 156 adjustably secured by means of a socket clamping stud 158 to a rock shaft 160 in the head of the machine. An arm 162 secured to the left-hand end of the rock shaft 160, as viewed in Fig. 3, is connected by means of a vertically extending link 164 to one arm of a bell crank lever 166 pivoted at 168 in the machine column, the other arm of the bell crank being connected to the knee treadle arm 170. The slotted member 144 is normally held in a retracted position so that the pin' 114 is free to engage with the recess 140 upon stopping the machine to disconnect the needle at the top of its stroke by means of a compression spr-ing 172, coiled about the link 164 between a fixed shoulder 174 on the link and plate 138 which acts to hold the link 164 yieldingly in the raised position.

When the operator releases the foot treadle 64 to disengage the clutch members 42 and 44 and stop the machine, the link 132 is elevated by the action of the compression Vspring 134 to rotate the pivot shaft'124 and move the pin 126 tion, the lever 122 is forced still further down wardly to bring the recess 140 into engagement with the pin 114 as the bell crank 84 reaches the limit of its movement on the up-stroke of the needle to lock these parts against further movement, as shown in Fig. 2. Since the bell crank 94 continues to oscillate until the sewing shaft 40 L.lil

is brought to a complete standstill, the resulting relative movement of the sleeve 98, to which the bell crank 94 is secured, and the rock shaft 88 carrying the bell crank 84, causes the member 106 of the slip clutch to be moved away from the member 102 against the pressure of the spring 108. When the foot treadle 64 is again depressed by the operator to put the machine in operation, the link 132 is moved downwardly against the pressure of the spring 134, raising the lever arm 122 to disengage the recess 140 from the pin 114 and to release the latch 112 which now moves under the pressure of its spring 118 into engagement with the pin 116 on the driving bell crank 94. To insure the engagement of the latch 112 wit-h the pin 116, a projection 176 is formed on the latch and is adapted to engage with the pin 126 on the lever 122 to force the latch downwardly into operative position. i

When it is desired to stop the machine during the progress of the stitching with the needle at the limit of its downward stroke through the work, the operator prior to releasing the foot treadle, pushes in the knee treadle 152, causing the link 164 to be depressed against the pressure of its spring 172 so that the sliding member 144 is advanced to cover up the recess 140 and to bring the recess 150 onthe sliding member 144 into register with the recess 142 in the lever 122. When the foot treadle 64 is now released to stop the machine, the downward movement of the lever 122 to disengage the latch 112 causes the pin 114 to be engaged by the recess 142 at the rearward end of the movement of the pin 114 on the bell crank 84, so that the bell crank and the needle bar 74 are locked against further movement at the limit of the downward stroke of the needle through the work, as shown in Fig. 4.

Since the looper 72 continues to rotate with the sewing shaft as this element is brought to a gradual stop after the needle has been disconnected from its actuating connections at the bottom of its work piercing stroke, it is desirable when stopping the machine with the needle through the work to insure that the looper does not pick up the thread held on the needle with consequent snarling and breaking of the thread. During the regular cycle of the sewing elements in forming a new stitch, the needle is moved downwardly to the limit of its work piercing stroke and is then retracted slightly to form a loop in the thread adjacent the eye of the needle to receive the pointed tip 180 of the looper. In order to facilitate handling the thread and to avoid any excessive strain on the thread, particularly at the needle eye, with the consequent danger of cutting or breaking the thread, a groove 182 is formed as usual in one side of the needle shank to receive the thread leading from the supply. The other side of the needle shank over which the thread leading from the work side of the needle loop must pass is shaped so that a close frictional contact is maintained between the Work and the needle. When the needle is slightlyV retracted, as above described, the thread on the work side of the needle loop is held by the frictional contact with the edge of `the work, causing the thread extending between the needle eye and the lower surface of the work to bulge outwardly away from the needle shank into' the path of the looper point 180.

With the construction and operation of the parts herein described, when it is desired to stop the machine with the needle through the work, the needle is disconnected from its actuating mechanism and is locked out of operation at the bottom of its work piercing stroke and before any retracting movement has taken place, so that the portion of the thread forming the work side of the needle loop which would normally be bulged outwardly into the path of the looper is held tightly against the needle shank out of the path of the point 180 of the looper which continues to rotate free of the needle loop as the cam shaft 40 of the machine is brought gradually to a stop. In order to insure the requisite amount of clearance between the point 180 of the looper and the thread when the needle is stopped at the bottom of its stroke, and also to prevent interference between the looper point and the needle shank at this time, when the notched'portion l184 of the shank is somewhat below its normal position for cooperating with the looper point, the looper is set somewhat further away from the `needle than would ordinarily be the case where the only object is to insure the taking or the thread by the looper. As a further precaution to prevent the point 180 of the looper from engaging with and injuring the thread when the machine is stopped with the needle through the work, the needle is grooved, as indicated at 185 in Fig. 13, for a short distance along its length adjacent to the eye of the needle and above the notch 184 to receive that portion of the thread forming the work side of the needle loop which comes directly opposite the looper point 180 with the needle at the bottom of its stroke.

The mechanism for feeding the work in. the present machine comprises two feed rolls indicated at 186 and 188 which 'cooperate to impart an intermittent or step by step feed to the work in timed relation to the operation of the sewing devices. The lower feed roll 186 is formed on a sleeve 190 on the end of the sewing shaft 40. There is also connected to turn with the sleeve 190 a helical gear 192 which meshes with a corresponding gear 194 formed on a short cross shaft 196. The shaft 196 is intermittently rotated by connections from the sewing shaft 40 including a Horton clutch generally indicated at 198 and a link 200 connected at one end by means of a pin 202 to the driving member of the clutch and at its other end to the lower arm of a bell crank lever 204 pivotally mounted on a shaft 206 in the machine frame. The other arm of the bell crank 204 is connected bymeans of a link 208 to the lower end of the needle bar actuating bell crank 84. The upper feed roll 188 is loosely sleeved to turn as an idler on a spindle 210 and acts when rendered operative to hold the work yieldingly in engagement with the positively driven feed roll 186 to advance the work. With this arrangement of the parts, it will be seen that the feed rolls are given an intermittent feeding movement to advance the work in timed relation to the operation of the needle with each reciprocaton of the needle actuating bell crank 84 through the Horton clutch 198, as above described, and are rendered inoperative simultaneously with the disconnecting of the needle and its actuating bell crank 84 from the driving connections to prevent further feeding of the work.

In order to facilitate the entry and removal of the work from the machine, means are provided for bringing the feed rolls into gripping engagement with the work when the machine is thrown into operation and for then separating them at the end of the sewing operation. To this end, the spindle 210 to which the upper feed roll 188 is sleeved is carried on a frame 226 which is mounted to turn about a pivot 228 in the machine. This frame is moved downwardly to bring the feed roll into yielding engagement with the work and is raised at the end of the sewing operation through connections including a toggle which is actuated from the rock shaft 124 for connecting and disconnecting the needle from its actuating mechanism. One member of the toggle consists of a rod 230 which is pivotally attached at 232 to the frame member 226, the other end of the rod sliding through a hole in a swiveling stud 234 pivotally mounted in a lever 236 which is mounted to rotate on a xed pivot 238 and forms the other member of the toggle. A stop nut 240 provided on the upper end of the rod 230 limits the downward movement of the rod through the swiveling stud 234.v A compression spring 242 coiled about the rod 230 inserted between the swiveling stud 234 and a shoulder at its lower end tends to hold the rod and the member 226 carrying the upper feed roll 188 in a downward position with the stop nut 240 in engagement with the swiveling stud 234. When the toggle is broken, the feed roll 188 is held in a raised inoperative position well away from the work by means 0fy a tension spring 244 which is secured to a short lever arm 246 formed on the hub of the toggle lever 236, and tends to move Vthe lever arm 236 and with it the feed roll 188 to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the toggle is straightened to clamp the feed roll 188 against the work, the swiveling stud 234 is moved somewhat past center to a position which is determined by the engagement of a stop 248 on the lever arm 246 with a fixed abutment on the machine frame, where it is held by the pressure of the relatively heavy spring 242.

The mechanism for actuating vthe toggle connections to raise and lower the upper feed roll 188 comprises a link 250 which is pivotally mounted at its rear end to an upwardly extending lever arm 252 secured to the rock shaft 124 and at its forward end is provided with a slot 254 which engages with a pin formed on the swiveling stud 234 forming the central pivot of the toggle system.

When the foot treadle 64 is depressed to start the machine, the rocking of the shaft 124 by the downward movement of the link 132 and lever 130 to raise the lever 122 and permit the needle actuating lever 84 to be actuated with the driving lever 94, causes the lever arm 252 secured to the shaft 124 and the link 250 to be moved to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, to straighten the toggle connections and bring the feed roll 188 into yielding engagement with the work. When the foot treadle is again released to stop the machine, the advancing movement of the link 250 causes the toggle pivot 234 to be broken, the tension spring 244 acting to continue the rotary movement of the toggle member 236 about its pivot to raise the upper feed roll 188 well away from the work. This movement of the toggle member 236 is limited by the engagement of the pin formed on the swiveling stud 234 with the forward end of the slot 254 in the link 250, as shown in Fig. 2.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A sewing machine having, in combination, a work piercing needle and cooperating sewing devices, asewing shaft and connections for actuating the needle, and means rendered operative upon stopping the machine to disconnect the needle from said sewing shaft alternatively when in engagement with or withdrawn from the work.

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewingshaft and connections for actuating the said sewing devices, means for disconnecting the needle from the said sewing shaft, and means adjustable to cause the needle to be disconnected alternatively at the top or bottom of its stroke.

3. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft from which the said devices including the needle are operated, a power drive for the sewing shaft, and a stop mechanism for the machine comprising a clutch for disconnecting the sewing shaft from the power drive, and means for disconnecting the needle from the sewing shaft adjustable to render the needle inoperative alternatively at the top or bottom of its stroke.

4. A sewing machine having. in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a needle actuating lever, a driving lever positively actuated from the shaft, the said levers being co-axially mounted and provided with a slip clutch connection adapting them normally to operate together, and means for locking the needle actuating lever out of operation in a predetermined position during the continued operation of the driving lever.

5. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a needle actuating lever, a rock shaft to which the lever is secured, a driving lever sleeved on the shaft to rotate concentrically with the needle lever, and positively driven from the sewing shaft, a slip clutch connection between the rock shaft and the sleeve adapted normally to cause the needle actuating lever to oscillate with the driving lever, and means for locking the needle actuating lever out of operation against the pressure of said slip connection.

6. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a needle actuating lever, a rock shaft to which the lever is secured, a driving lever sleeved on the shaft to rotate concentrically with the needle lever, and positively driven from the sewing shaft, a slip clutch connection between the rock shaft and the sleeve adapted normally to cause the needle actuating lever to oscillate with the driving lever, and means acting when rendered operative to lock the needle lever out of operation alternatively with the needle at the top or bottom of its stroke.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle', a sewing shaft, a bell crank lever continuously driven from the said shaft, a second co-axially mounted bell crank lever connected to the needle, a slip clutch connection tending to cause the bell crank levers to rotate as a unit about their common axis, a hook and pin connection between the free arms of the bell cranks for positively operating the needle actuating bell crank from the driving bell crank, and means acting when rendered operative to disengage the hook and lock the needle actuating bell crank in a predetermined position.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a bell crank lever continuously driven from the said shaft, a second coaxially mounted bell crank lever connected to the needle,

the arms of the bell cranks to which the needle and the sewing shaft are respectively connected being arranged on opposite sides of the pivotal connection and the remaining arms of the bell cranks being arranged in substantially parallel relationship, means for causing the needle bell crank to move with the driving bell crank, a hook and pin connection between the free ends of the bell cranks for positively operating the needle actuating bell crank from the driving bell crank lever, and means acting when rendered operative to disengage the hook and lock the needle actuating bell crank in a predetermined position.

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a bell crank lever continuously driven from the said sewing shaft, a second coaxially mounted bell crank lever connected to the needle, a slip clutch connection tending to cause the bell crank levers to rotate as a unit about their common axis, a hook and pin connection between the free ends of the bell cranks` for positively operating the needle actuating bell crank from the driving bell crank lever, means acting when rendered operative to disengage the hook, and means cooperating therewith to lock the needle actuating bell crank against further movement adjustable to stop the needle alternatively at one end or the other of its stroke.

10. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing eye needle and a looper located on the opposite side of the work from the needle adapted to enter a bight of thread formed during the retracting movement of the needle through the work, actuating connections for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the needle, means for continuously rotating the looper in timed relation to the needle, and means for disconnecting the needle from its actuating connections substantially at the limit of its work piercing stroke with the thread held thereon out of line with the rotating looper.

11. A sewing machine having, in combination,

` sewing devices including a work piercing eye needle and a looper located on the opposite side of the work from the needle adapted to engage one leg of the needle loop, actuating connections for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the needle, and means for disconnecting the needle from its actuating connections substantially at the limit of its work piercing stroke with the thread held thereon out of the path of the looper.

12. A sewing machine having, in combination,

sewing devices including a work piercing eye needle and a looper located on the opposite side of the work from the needle adapted 4to enter a' piercing stroke with the thread held thereon outv of the path of the looper.

13. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a feed roll, a work supporting roll between which and the peripheral surface of the feed roll the work is gripped, mechanism for actuating the said sewing and feeding devices including the needle, means for disconnecting the needle from the said actuating mechanism adjustable to cause the needle to be disconnected alternatively at the top or bottom of its stroke, and simultaneously to stop the said feeding devices.

14. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing and feeding devices including a work piercing needle and cooperating feed rolls, a sewing shaft, connections from the sewing cam shaft for actuating the needle and the feed rolls, stopping and starting mechanism for the machine, and means acting when rendered 'operative to disconnect the needle from its actuating mechanism alternatively at the top or bottom of its stroke and simultaneously to disconnect the feed rolls.

15. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing and feeding devices including a work piercing needle and cooperating feed rolls, a sewing shaft, connections from the sewing camshaft for actuating the needle and the feed rolls, stopping and starting mechanism for the machine, and means acting when rendered operative to disconnect the needle from its actuating mechanism alternatively at the top or bottom of its stroke and simultaneously to move the feed rolls out of feeding relationship to the work.

16. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a driving bell crank lever, connections from one arm of the bell crank including a crank for driving the bell crank continuously from the said shaft, a needle actuating bell crank lever coaxially mounted with the first lever, connections from one arm of the needle actuating bell crank to actuate the needle, a hooked latch and pin connection between the free arms of the bell cranks for positively operating the needle actuating bell crank from the driving bell crank during the movement in one direction of the saidI actuating bell crank, connections for moving the needle actuating bell crank with thefactuating bell crank during the movement of said actuating bell crank in the opposite direction, and means acting when rendered operative'to disengage the latch and lock the needle actuating bell crank against further movement with the actuating bell crank at the limit of the needle stroke.

17. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a driving bell crank lever having one arm inv a substantially horizontal plane, a crank formed in the sewing shaft, a link connecting the said crank to the horizontal arm of the driving bell crank, a needle actuating bell crank lever coaxially mounted with the actuating bell crank and having one arm in a substantially' horizontal plane on the opposite side of the pivot, and its other arm substantially parallel to the free arm of the driving bell crank, connections from the horizontal arm of the needle actuating bell crank for actuating the needle, a hooked latch and pin connection between the free arms of the bell cranks for positively operating the needle actuating bell crank from the driving bell crank during the movement in one direction of said actuating bell crank, means for causing the needle actuating bell crank to be moved with the driving bell crank during the movement of the driving bell crank in an opposite direction, and means. acting when rendered operative to disengage the latch and lock the needle actuating bell crank out of operation with the needle at one end of its stroke.

18. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a Work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a needle actuating lever, a driving lever positively actuated from the shaft, said levers being coaxially mounted, connections for moving the needle actuating lever with the driving lever arranged to permit these levers to move yieldingly with relation to each other in either direction, and means for locking the needle actuating lever out of operation alternatively in any one of a plurality of diierent positions during the continued operation of the driving lever.

19. A sewing machine having, in combination, sewing devices including a work piercing needle, a sewing shaft, a needle actuating lever, a driving lever positively actuated from the shaft, said levers being coaxially mounted, connections for moving the needle actuating lever with the driving lever arranged to permit these levers to move yieldingly with relation to each other in either direction, and means for locking the needle actuating lever out of operation with the needle alternatively at the top or bottom of its stroke during the continued operation of the driving lever.

BERNARD T. LEVEQUE. 

